Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Will Give Out Grants on June 5

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Join Us for the Watertown Community Foundation 2019 Spring Grant Awards Reception on June 5, 2019 at 6 p.m. at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street. Free and Open to the Public

The Watertown Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $52,000 to initiatives in two categories:

One: WCF’s Program Grants awards grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus (broadly defined). These are programs that operate outside of the Watertown’s public schools. 

Two: WCF’s Institutional Grants are designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming and retain paid staff.  Grants under this program impose neither restrictions on the use of funds nor any program requirements.   

Eligible organizations apply for a maximum of $3000 for program grants and a maximum of $5000 for institutional grants.  All of the grants are funded by the Foundation’s Watertown Arsenal Education Fund. 

2019 Institutional Grants   

WATERTOWN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBOperational Support

This funding will help to continue to provide the youth of Watertown with programs and services including after school programs and summer camps, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. WATERTOWN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARYExpanded Core Programs at Hatch Maker Space

Hatch Makerspace will expand its regular monthly programming, collectively referred to as “Core Programs” to include a new “Art Studio” workshop with paid instruction and the coverage of workshop material expenses. WORLD IN WATERTOWNFor Watertown Community Conversations

Funds to support community conversations in Watertown.

Charity

Volunteers Wanted for Annual Watertown Helps Out Day

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Three hundred people came out for the fifth annual Watertown Helps Out! The sixth annual Watertown Helps Out will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019, and the Watertown Community Foundation is seeking volunteers

On that day, volunteers will head to locations around town to do work with local non-profit groups on projects in the community. Volunteers are needed at First Parish Watertown, Metro West Collaborative Development, Mosesian Center for the Arts, Asperger/Autism Network, Gore Place, and Wayside Youth and Family Support Network

To sign up click here: https://www.watertownfoundation.org/watertown-helps-out-2019/

Around Town

Hundreds Turn Out for the Town-Wide Spelling Bee

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Watertown students participated in the Town-Wide Spelling Bee on Sunday. Hundreds of elementary school students from Watertown came out Sunday to take part in the 2019 Town-Wide Spelling Bee. The ninth-annual event took place at Watertown Middle School and drew about 200 students from all three Watertown elementary schools as well as St. Stephen’s Armenian School. The money raised at the event will go back to the Watertown Public Schools through the Watertown Community Foundation’s Education grants.

Around Town

See How to Apply for Watertown Community Foundation’s Spring Grants

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces two Spring 2019 grant programs to support local nonprofits, programs and projects. Approximately $52,000 will be distributed. One: WCF’s Program Grants will award grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus (broadly defined). These are programs that operate outside of the Watertown’s public schools. Two: WCF’s Institutional Grants are designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming and retain paid staff.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Awards nearly $30,000 in School Based Grants

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The Watertown Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $29,288.21 to initiatives supporting Watertown Public Schools. Grantees were notified just before the end of the 2018 school year. 

Grants will be implemented in spring of 2019 and or fall of 2019.  This latest round of grant making brings the Foundation’s 2018 grant distribution to $148,883. The funds distributed through the School Based Grant Program focus on solely on Watertown’s public schools to support activities that improve instruction and learning.  

2018-2019 Education Grants  

20 Watertown Education Grants totaling $29,288.21 were given to: 

Friends of Watertown Music Purchase and Repair Program District Program for This is Gore Place – 2 nd  year of local history project for third graders.  Growing and Sustaining School Garden ProgramsCunniff School for In-School Enrichment Programs Lowell School Discovery Museum Light and Laser Traveling MuseumHosmer School for International Week, Science Night, Math Olympiad, After School Learning by Design, Hosmer Connections -Motivating Materials for Purposeful Play, Hosmer Welcome ProgramWatertown Middle School for Voice and Choice in Verse, Garden Project, Social Studies Education-Using Google Cardboard, Watertown WeekWatertown High School for Courtyard Update, SPEAK Project (Sharing Personal Experience and Knowledge), College Field Trips, LEAP School Supplies Store, Graduation Night Party

For questions, please contact Jan Singer at  jan.singer@watertownfoundation.org.  

The Watertown Community Foundation, a public, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown – now, and for future generations. To accomplish this, WCF raises funds from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations; awards grants to nonprofits and community projects; and builds networks of donors, grantees, program participants, and stakeholders. 

WCF Board of Directors 

David Siegel and Darshna Varia, Co-Presidents; Robert Airasian; Albrik Avanessian; Emily Barclay; Eleanor Donato; William B.  Ford;  Ashley Morris; Mary Ann Mulligan; Anthony Paolillo; Maria Panaggio-Phillips; Lora Sabin; Robert Shay; CL Tian; Elaina Themistos; Lauren Coughlin Unsworth; and Kathryn White.

Around Town

See Who Got Health Watertown Grants from the Community Foundation

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The Watertown Community Foundation sent the following announcement:

From indoor gym equipment for Watertown Head Start Program to keep pre-schoolers moving all year long to healthy lunches for vacation camps at the Boys and Girls Club leveling the field for all, The Watertown Community Foundation has announced the recipients of this year’s Healthy Watertown grants.  

“We are THRILLED to have received the Healthy Watertown Grant for the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. We have been hoping to do this initiative for years, and finally we will be able to offer healthy lunches during our vacation camps.” — Mary Kern WBGC

Seniors will have a chance to take Zen Art classes plus attend a summer supper club.  Firefighters will get Mental Health First Aid training through Wayside Youth & Multi Service Center. “Thanks so much for this award. We are very excited to be able to offer MHFA to the firefighters!” — Laura Kurman

Lt. Dan Unsworth will continue to help community members and their families cope with opioid addiction and challenges facing their families with the Free Community Narcan Program. Watertown For All Ages will begin their study on transportation needs for seniors and every senior in town will get a chance to find out how to cook and eat healthy with Seasoned, a new magazine from CHOP CHOP Magazine.